The final "Thought Provoker" for 1984 asks you to do some supplementary reading first, and then respond.
KEY QUESTION: When people use the term "Orwellian" today, what do they mean?
YOUR JOB: Read the following New York Times cover story from this past Sunday (10/6/2013). Then, in the first part of a short response below, answer this: "How is this story 'Orwellian'?" Finally, in the second part of your short response, answer the "Key Question" above.
ARTICLE LINK: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/06/technology/selling-secrets-of-phone-users-to-advertisers.html?hp
Have fun!
Learn something!
This story is Orwellian because in 1984 the party controls mostly everything you do and they are always watching. In this article it is mentioned that smartphones know everything such as where people go and what they do. That statement is “Orwellian” because just like the party they are constantly tracking everyone 24/7. When people use the term "Orwellian" today, I think they mean that something is very controlling, always watching what you do and where you go. Controlling every idea leaving no room for personal freedom. The aspect of an invasion of personal privacy and the adoration of leaders is also part of the definition of “Orwellian”.
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ReplyDeleteThis New York Times story is "Orwellian" because the privacy of the people is similar in the article to those in the book. The article mentions how companies actually track what websites or searches people do on their devices and put ads on their other devices based on what they have searched. This is an extreme invasion of privacy and makes people wonder if they can search anything personal on the computer without it being tracked. The people in "1984" lives were always under surveillance and nothing could be done freely. Now, in our society, people are starting to question their privacy, considering the how the NSA has been collecting data from cellphones and how web searches are being tracked ands stored. The term "Orwellian" is used to describe a destruction in what is supposed be a free and open society.
ReplyDeleteIn 1984, Orwell describes a dystopian society that is completely controlled by an upper Party who monitors every move of the people. This New York Times story about our own lives reflects that "Orwellian" description because just like the telescreens in 1984, smartphones can now track where we are and what we do. The article argues that smartphone users no longer have much privacy because all of their private information is being taken by the government and other companies. This can be compared to the people in 1984 who are under constant surveillance by the Party. I think that when people use the term "Orwellian," they want to describe something that takes away someone's privacy and freedom to do something without feeling like they are being watched. This article makes me think that maybe our society is more similar to the dystopia in 1984 than a lot of us realize.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your statment completely. There are many things today, that can be described as "Orwellian" and it seems like its mostly used in a negative way. But is there a positive way to use it? Maybe for example the gps in our phones our cars are used by the goverent to track us but if we ever got lost, it would be to our benefit because they would be able to find us. So in a way giving up our privacy, is a way to ensure our safety.
DeleteOne of the things about that North Korea video that always rubs me the wrong way is that it's really EASY to make the connection between the Party and the NK leadership. It's HARDER, but much more important, to make the connection between Orwell's dystopia and here, today. This NY Times piece reminded me that a) "Orwellian" surveillance exists; b) it's not the government that has the most to profit from this surveillance; and c) we don't like to make ourselves uncomfortable by reminding ourselves of what we GIVE UP when we carry a computer in our pocket. We don't like to think about the costs of convenience. But they exist.
ReplyDeleteTo be able to define the article as "owellian," I have to first make sense of that to myself. "Orwellian" to me may have many meanings depending on the context. In the context of relating it to this article, It means the invasion of private property. In the article, the personal private information of consumers, is leaked to advertisers. This disrespect of private is analogous to the constant tabs the government in 1984 keeps over the citizens' actions as well as thoughts.The word, "Orwellian" comes into play here because although 1984 provides a slightly more extreme example, in both cases privacy rights are violated. Ultimately, although we might not want to make this realization: our society possesses some "Orwellion" elements.
ReplyDeleteThis article is "Orwellian" because it demonstrates how our society is starting to mirror the dystopian society depicted in 1984. In 1984, the government can constantly monitor what everyone is doing. This invasion of privacy can ultimately lead to the citizens being set up in a trap and ending up in prison. Although this article only talks about companies using citizens personal information such as browsing history for advertising, in our society advertisements can act as the type of trap, or prison in a sense. The article says that our phones and computers now use a software that can track everything the user does at all times. It is very similar to the thought police in 1984 tracking the members of that society 24 hours a day. Mr. Weintraub, I love the point you make about how we are giving up something (privacy) in order to benefit from what society has to offer. I think this is what an "Orwellian" society is based off of. A prole in 1984 doesn't need to give up much privacy, but they do not get as good a life and all the benefits that the Party members get. If you do not have a smartphone, you do not give up some of your privacy but you can also not benefit from having access to the whole internet and billions of answers at your fingertips. I think that this connects back to our society and the idea of a social contract that our founding fathers based the government off of. Great philosophers many years ago such as John Locke and Rosseau thought that in order to get the full benefit of government such as security and rights, you must give up a little freedom. This has been implemented for hundreds of years, and ultimately as it escalates to rights such as privacy and the benefits you can receive for giving some of it up shows how our society is based of an "Orwellian" aspect. Consequently, in our society I think that "Orwellian" is a word that refers to the dystopian idea of giving up rights or freedom because you think you will get benefits. This is a good philosophy, but for it to be "Orwellian" the freedom you give up sadly is more critical and bigger than the scarce and unimportant benefits you receive.
ReplyDeleteThis story is "Orwellian" because it describes the lack of privacy we have similar to that of 1984. We are being monitored and watched through a device that a majority of people hold. Maybe the devices don't track us as closely as the telescreens at each corner, but more people are being watched than those of Oceania. I agree with Stephanie that throughout the novel and reading this article i have noticed that we may be living in a similar type society to Orwell's. We are unconscious of the consequences of our phones because we are kept unaware.The "Orwellian" term represents this restriction of freedom and privacy by the government or greater force. An "Orwellian" society resembles ours is many ways that humans are too ignorant to see.
ReplyDeleteI think the story is "Orwellian" because it includes the key aspect of privacy invasion. It's important to note that the article doesn't include any information about protests or law suits against companies using personal data from phones and computers. This means that people are either unaware that their "personal" electronics are being monitored, or they just don't care enough to do anything about it. When people use the term "Orwellian" today, they mean that people's privacy is being breached in such a way that there is essentially no way to prevent it from happening.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the many responses above and add that this story is "Orwellian" also because it shows how obsessed we are with insignificant things. In the end of the book Winston becomes almost oblivious to the disturbing truths around him and instead decides to focus on things such as not getting beaten and gaining strength. This ultimately leads him to completely give himself over to the party which is in some ways what we do. We do not want to deal with the fact that our government is corrupt therefor we distract ourselves with unimportant tasks and staying alive just like the proles. We are the proles.
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